Converting Citi Simplicity to Citi Costco?

[FinStar]

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@dudeman27 wrote:

I've read in these forums and elsewhere of instances where people have converted their simplicity to the costco card. I have been periodically calling Citi over the past, I don't know, probably year, to see if they will convert the card. I'm trying to avoid an inquiry because I plan on getting an auto loan later this year.

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@dudeman27- out of curiosity, when did you get approved for Simplicity?

[dudeman27]

@FinStar January 2018. I've tried with and without a balance, so definitely doesn't matter. Considering my history and the comments here, I'll probably use the bunny hop method and convert to Custom Cash, then try Costco. I just need to call and make sure that my existing 0% balance transfer won't be affected (it will be paid off soon anyway) and there isn't a prohibitive wait time to PC again.

[FinStar]

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@dudeman27 wrote:

@FinStar January 2018. I've tried with and without a balance, so definitely doesn't matter. Considering my history and the comments here, I'll probably use the bunny hop method and convert to Custom Cash, then try Costco. I just need to call and make sure that my existing 0% balance transfer won't be affected (it will be paid off soon anyway) and there isn't a prohibitive wait time to PC again.

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Ok, the only reason I asked is b/c the card usually runs an intro 0% APR for 21 months. Typically, the intro promotion needs to end/expire before a PC can be considered. The same would apply for other cards that offer an intro APR promo such as Diamond Preferred, Double Cash or Custom Cash.

[dudeman27]

So I called Citi and converted to the Double Cash instead of Custom Cash (only 5% on first $500). The rep said that the "standard" waiting period is PC'ing, then retaining it for 1 year before it can be converted to something else. She wasn't super confident so I'm hoping that's wrong. If not then I'll hard apply for the Costco after the auto loan and ask them to combine credit lines (not sure if Citi does that).

They said the conversion finalizes on 6/21, so I'm going to be checking the validity of her statement on that date and will post an update on what I find out.

[FinStar]

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@dudeman27 wrote:

So I called Citi and converted to the Double Cash instead of Custom Cash (only 5% on first $500). The rep said that the "standard" waiting period is PC'ing, then retaining it for 1 year before it can be converted to something else. She wasn't super confident so I'm hoping that's wrong. If not then I'll hard apply for the Costco after the auto loan and ask them to combine credit lines (not sure if Citi does that).

They said the conversion finalizes on 6/21, so I'm going to be checking the validity of her statement on that date and will post an update on what I find out.

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Well, at least you're no longer restricted to Simplicity + you can earn some rewards in the interim. Your online account should refelct the change by now, if anything. Unfortunately, Citi is not known for combining or reallocating limits, not in the traditional way that Chase, Barclays or AmEx does, for example. The efforts typically involve escalation, a HP, and the entire [donor] CC limit cannot be xfrd.

At the end of June (or sometime in July), you can contact them again and see whether you can PC Double Cash to Costco. If unsuccessful, then keep tyring unless you want the Costco CC in the immediate future.

[dudeman27]

It has shown up online already, within 5 minutes of hanging up. To be honest, I likely won't ever use this card until I can convert to Costco. I already have a lot of other prime cards from Chase and Amex with better rewards. I truly only wanted the Costco card. Time will tell.

[xenon3030]

At Costco, you may simply use Affinity cash rewards to get 2% (if in a quarterly Hi5 category, it will be 7%). Using the other cards, you may also get ~3-5%.

Costco CC is a dead end and it cannot get PCed to any other card. Anyway, it might be good to have it sine one time at a Costco warehouse last week, all Visa networks were down and they were only accepting Citi Visa CC or cash.

[Physh1]

1 inquiry isn't going to impact your ability to get a car loan. I'd just apply for the Costco card if you want it.